PatsFans.com Menu
PatsFans.com - The Hub For New England Patriots Fans

New England Patriots > Patriots Blog

Aqib Talib Announces Retirement From NFL, Reveals Bill Belichick Tried To Sign Him

Robert Alvarez
Robert Alvarez on Twitter
September 9, 2020 at 2:25 pm ET

Aqib Talib Announces Retirement From NFL, Reveals Bill Belichick Tried To Sign Him

🕑 Read Time: 2 minutes

Bill Belichick was very close to bringing back an old friend for the 2020 season.

Speaking during his “Call To The Booth” podcast on Wednesday, former NFL cornerback Aqib Talib revealed that Belichick made a phone call this offseason with “the role of a lifetime”.

Belichick was interested Talib’s services to come back and defend tight ends on a one-year contract.

“I was halfway out the door,” Talib said, that is, until he saw the list of tight ends on the Patriots schedule.

“My guy, my big homie Bill Belichick called my phone. He told me that he had the role of a lifetime for me. He really wanted me to come in and strap tight ends. I was halfway out the door, I got flights, I started finding apartments. I could’ve got up to $5-6 million, a nice vet contract. If I can make $6 million and guard tight ends all day, I’m like, ‘I’m cool’. I kinda start going through that schedule, I seen (George) Kittle, (Travis) Kelce, (Darren) Waller.”

“Usually, when I get in this position and I’m going to a new team, my thoughts are all positive,” Talib continued.

“This time, I looked at this [expletive] schedule and the thought — I said, ‘Can I even strap these damn tight ends?’ I said, ‘Oh [expletive]. It’s over with. Once I said that, once that negative thought crossed my mind, man, my heart, my competitive edge, I ain’t really in it no more.”

Talib instead made the decision to retire after 12 NFL seasons instead of returning to Foxboro where he played a season and a half from 2012-2013.

Check out the full conversation on his podcast below.

Over his career, Talib earned five Pro-Bowl selections and won a Super Bowl ring with the 2015 Denver Broncos.

READ NEXT:
VIDEO: A Look Back At The Patriots First Regular Season Game 60 Years Ago Today

Tags: Aqib Talib Bill Belichick

  • Subscribe
    Notify of
    guest

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    0 Comments
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments

  • More Patriots News Headlines:

    Thursday Patriots Notebook 4/25: News and Notes

    Thursday Patriots Notebook 4/25: News and Notes

    By: Ian Logue
    It sounds like the Vikings may be throwing in the towel when it comes to potentially trading up to acquire a quarterback tonight.
    4 hours ago
    Patriots Kraft ‘Involved’ In Decision Making?  Zolak Says That’s Not the Case

    Patriots Kraft ‘Involved’ In Decision Making? Zolak Says That’s Not the Case

    By: Ian Logue
    Throughout the transition from former Patriots coach Bill Belichick to new head coach Jerod Mayo, Robert Kraft had made one thing clear. Ownership was not…
    1 day ago
    MORSE: Final First Round Patriots Mock Draft

    MORSE: Final First Round Patriots Mock Draft

    By: Mark Morse
    This is a deep draft for Offensive Tackles and Wide Receivers.  First round talent for Cornerbacks and Edge Rushers is also plentiful.  I am predicting…
    1 day ago
    Slow Starts: Stark Contrast as Patriots Ponder Which Top QB To Draft

    Slow Starts: Stark Contrast as Patriots Ponder Which Top QB To Draft

    By: Ian Logue
    With the first round of the NFL Draft finally looming, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s name has cooled a bit over the last week, albeit he…
    1 day ago
    Wednesday Patriots Notebook 4/24: News and Notes

    Wednesday Patriots Notebook 4/24: News and Notes

    By: Ian Logue
    One interesting notion from Ben Volin was initially somewhat dismissable, but comments from Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles are enough to make you wonder if…
    1 day ago

    Share via
    Copy link
    Powered by Social Snap
    Search For Links: - CLOSE
    For searches with multiple players
    add commas (Ex: "Bill Belichick, Devin McCourty")